Chapter 1.19

     "There are many kinds of Occults.  Vampires, werewolves, faeries, witches, and still more.  We tend to live in loose communities within Sim cities and towns.  Wherever we thrive best.
     "We live in a loose state of isolation, there is no city of only Occults but within our communities we tend to keep to ourselves and associate only with other Occults.  The trouble comes when we have children.  If we stayed in isolation our bloodlines would become too entangled so most young adults will seek a partner out among the Sims."

     "Vampires like myself have great physical strength and the night enhances our physical and mental capabilities still more.  We, like our fictional counterparts, need blood to survive.  Either a willing donor or a special plant called plasma fruit takes care of our dietary needs.  Unlike fiction we are not immortal, we just have a very long lifespan.  Almost five times the lifespan of a sim."

     "We live in very small groupings, usually no more than three or four and their partners and families.  Vampires have fertility trouble so we tend to have small families, one or two children."

     "Faeries are very similar to vampires in that they also have a lifespan greater than average and a low reproductive ability."

     "It's been theorized by Occult scientists that our low birth-rates is a trade off for our longer lives.  I tend to think that there might be some truth to that theory.

     "Faeries have wings and the ability to fly.  They also have the unique ability to use magic to create auras that effect themselves and those around them.  They tend to be highly mischievous and like to play practical jokes."

     "Witches are most like typical sims.  They share the same life span as your average sim.  They possess magic to cast spells and curses, and create enchantments.  Most tend to go into fortune telling or create elixirs to sell to sims."

     "Most Faeries and Witches don't get along but in Moonlight falls there is one infamous couple.  The Avoreen's have been together for dozens of days.  The wife is a talented witch and potion maker.  She's come up with some kind of elixir that has allowed her to remain young while her husband is aging so that she can share his life with him and their only daughter."

     "Werewolves on the other hand are a mix of a longer life span, though not as long as a faeries or vampires, and a sims high fertilty.  They live in a larger pack community.  Packs tend to be made of related families living in the same area."

     "A werewolf will have many children because they tend to have multiple births.  Twins and triplets are the most common among their pregnancies.  There is a lot of growling and snapping among them but they are fiercely loyal to one another and to their pack as a whole."

     "There are still more kinds of Occults out there.  Rumors of genies that live in lamps, living ghosts that have actual will, aliens, plant sims, mersims like you and more that may or may not even be real.  It is quite a rich and diverse world we live in, even if we aren't aware of it."

     "It does indeed sound quite wondrous.  But how has all this been kept a secret from Sims,"  Jaessana asked.

     "The we I have spoken of is the Occult council.  It's membership is made of elders from all the various types of occult's that live in Moonlight falls, since that is the seat of the occult power.  The council's job is to settle disputes among occults, ensure our secrecy and to assign positions of guardians to those occults to oversee the occults that live in other sim cities and towns."

      "I am one such guardian who was sent here to check on you.  Though the mersims tend to police themselves since Isla Paradiso is one of only three places they live in great numbers; the council has not received a report of your situation from them, so here I am."

      "You're here to check on Jae?" Everado asked.

      "Yes.  To see how she is adjusting to becoming an Occult, how her partner, you, are dealing with it and to get a family registry so that you and your children are added to the Moonlight Falls official records."

      "Which brings me to another aspect of your situation.  It's my understanding that your parents were sims Mrs. Drimagard."

     "My father and grandparents were but I know nothing of my mother or her family.  My father said she disappeared shortly after I was born and before we moved to Isla Paradiso."

     "You moved here?"

     "From Moonlight Falls actually, when I was a toddler."

     "Hmmm. I will have to do further research when I return there."

     "You also mentioned that Doc Miles will be keeping silent," Everado asked.
     "He will refrain from bringing undo attention to your wife and children.  He himself is not of the occult but he is intelligent and knows that it could be unsafe for your children and wife if they were to be outed."
      "Wouldn't sims be interested in them because they were different.  Like kids with shiny new toys?"
      "Some would, but too many would be frightened by what is different.  And that could have fatal consequences for those involved it's why we keep our existence secret in the first place."
      "Now it is getting late," Dr. Quinn said standing,  "I will leave you to your family, you have my number if you should need to contact me in the future, and I will let you know if I find anything about your mother Mrs. Drimagard.  It is unusual that she would leave you as a toddler."
       Jaessana walked her to the front door,  "Thank you for that.  And again thank you for coming out here.  You have given us a lot to think about."
      "You are very welcome.  Take care now," she said walking down to the street.  She stopped at the sidewalk and looked back at Jaessana and Everado at the doorway.  Jaessana saw her wink once before running up the sidewalk.  Before Jaessana could turn her head to follow she had disappeared.
      "Wow," Everado said.
      "Yeah," Jaessana nodded.

                                                                                                                                                  
Random Ramblings

     Okay so here is my take on the supernaturals.  Everything I came up with is a kind of piecemeal from my favorite authors.  Mixed into my own take to fit the world of Sims.

   So I am in school and haven't had much time to play.  The story is literally caught up to where I am in game.  Since I don't have time to play much I am going to take off March from posting and just play and write.  I should be back in April with the story. Hopefully even into generation two.  Man I want to play generation two already.  I'm glad I got the occults out of the way thought.  This is for those non-players that want some information.  Alright, gottat go and do some homework now.  Laters....

Chapter 1.18

     "Thank you for coming Dr. Quinn.  I'm glad you found the place."
     "No worries Mrs. Drimagard.  Your directions were quite easy to follow."
     Jaessana turned around and led Dr. Quinn inside the house.

     "We were concerned when you called and said you had to meet to discuss the results of my last test," Jaessana said offering the doctor a seat as she sat on the sofa.
     Jaessana looked up at Everado as he came into the living room and sat with her on the love seat while the doctor took a side chair on the other side of the room.  She smiled in appreciation as he took her hand in support.
 

     "Doc Miles never mentioned you when we met to discuss Jae's results in the past,"  Everado said.
     "Dr. Ethan Miles is your family's primary physician?  How long have you been seeing him?"
     "He was one of my father's former students before he was hired on at the hospital.  I've been seeing him since my childhood."
     Dr. Quinn smiled, "since you came to our attention, I've been reviewing Dr. Miles and he has a good solid standing as a physician and he has agreed to keep his silence regarding the matter."
   

     "Silence." "Our attention." Jaessana and Everado spoke together.

     "Of course,"  Dr. Quinn looked back and forth between them, "and you don't know what I'm talking about.  Where to start explaining, hmmm" she said putting a hand to her chin. 

     "Why don't you start with what you mean 'our attention'," Everado suggested.

     "That is a logical starting place.  All right then.  What do you know about the Occult?"
     "Nothing," Jaessana said, but Everado shifted on the seat next to her.  She turned to him, "Everado?"
     "My Uncle Rubisen was a mersim.  When Jae was first affected by the treatment I talked to him about it but he didn't know anything about why Jae was affected the way she was."

     "You never told me this."
     "He died the day after I talked to him, since he didn't tell me anything I didn't think there was anything to tell you."
     "Your uncle was Rubisen Ichtaca?" Dr. Quinn asked.
     "Yeah, how did you know?"
     "We received an inquiry from him dated the day before he died.  That must have been after you spoke to him."
     "Who is this 'we' you keep mentioning."  Everado asked
   

     "Mummy, what's going on?"

     Jaessana turned to see the girls standing in the doorway.

     "We're talking with Dr. Quinn.  It's getting late you two should be getting ready for bed.  Where's Dromy?"

     "Aunt Dromy is getting Owen bathed."  

     "Go get dressed for bed.  As soon as your dad and I finish with Dr. Quinn we'll be up to tuck you in."

     "Okay," Dani said heading upstairs.  Bay crossed her arms before saying, "we're not little kids anymore we're almost grown up."

     "Then you don't need us to wish you good night?" Jaessana asked.

     "I didn't say that."

     "Go. We'll be up in a few," Jaessana said.  Bailey followed her sister upstairs.

     "They seem to be sweet girls."

     "They are.  Who is 'we'?" Jaessana asked returning to the conversation.

     "I'll get to that but first Occults.  Occults are sims that are not your typical everyday sims like your husband.  They are sims that do not have any kind of extra abilities or limitations.  Occults on the other hand are sims with some kind of physical or magical anomaly.  Sims like you Mrs. Drimagard, and like me."

     

     "Like you/" Everado asked.
     "Yes.  I am a vampire.  It's why I asked to have this meeting at night rather than at the hospital earlier in the day."
     "A vampire.  As in drink your blood, live forever, vampire.  I thought those are myths."
     "As are mersims, Mr. Drimagard," Dr. Quinn said with a raised brow.

     "She's got a point there," Jaessana said turning to her husband.
     Everado put an arm along the back of the couch and Jaessana shifted to lean into him before turning back to the doctor.

     "Tell us more about Occults."

                                                                                                                                                  
Random Ramblings

   So this upcoming chapter will kind of be an informative chapter about the supernaturals in the game for those that don't play and might be reading this.  It will be my take on the supernaturals in the game and how they fit into the story I'm writing.  See you later readers.

Chapter 1.17

     It was Leisure day so everyone decided to spend the holiday poolside.  After breakfast Everado headed outside with the girls to the pool they had recently built on the property.  Jaessana followed with Owen who was now a toddler.  While Everado relaxed in the arm chair keeping an eye on the swimming girls, Jaessana tried to teach Owen the importance of eating healthy and avoiding fires.

     "And they left the house in the middle of cooking.  The whole house nearly burnt down."
     "Burn, burn," the toddler laughed.
     "It's not funny," Jaessana mock scowled at her son, "the fire monster will eat you."  She then growled and pretended to eat the baby to his hysterical giggles.

     "Girls it's time to get out if you're going to go by the festival," Jaessana called to the girls.

     "We're coming, we're coming," they called as they swam to the edge and climbed out.

     "Are you sure you can handle the girls on your own Dromy?" Jaessana asked as she shifted the toddler to her other hip.  The baby rubbed a fist to his eyes as he relaxed against her shoulder.

     "We'll be fine Jae-jae.  Go put Owen down and enjoy your day off," Dromy replied.

     Everado looked at the twins as they approached.  "You two behave and listen to your aunt.  Come home when she says it's time to come home and no arguing, okay?

     "Okay," they chorused.

     Dromy headed out with Dani and Bay as Jaessana walked the sleepy toddler upstairs to his crib.

     "We'll have to remember to thank Dromy for this later," Everado said from behind Jaessana.

     Jaessana brushed Owens hair before standing.  Everado wrapped his arms around her and they both looked down at the sleeping baby.  She turned her head smiled at her husband before taking his hand to pull him from the room, "yes, we will.  But how are we going to spend our time until the kids come home in the meantime?"

     "I can think of a way or two," Everado said kissing her.

     Jaessana just chuckled and kissed him back.

                                                            

     There wasn't a lot of time before dark when the kids arrived at the festival grounds.  Both Dani and Bay got their faces painted at the face painting booth before taking a seasonal greeting card photo with Dromy.

     After the photo-op they all collected a snow cone to eat before returning home.
                                                                                                                                                  
Random Rambling

   Is it just me or did these last two chapters seem kind of abrupt?  Oh well, yeah, just a little bit of fluff to pass the time.  I'm planning to go into some more detail regarding the supernatural sims in the next chapter.  It will be a screen shot file so not at all related to my current game play.  I'm just ironing out a few details before I start it.  Hope I get to it tomorrow so I can do more writing.  Well toodl-loo I'm off to see the wizard....

Chapter 1.16

     Jaessana was in her studio working on a painting when Danica came into the room.

     "Mummy, the teacher is giving us an extra project for our world history class."

     Jaessana smiled, Dani loved her world history class and it was the only one in which she was earning A's in.  "What is the project?" she asked.

     "The school is setting up a display of relics from around the world.  She's having us bring in artifacts that represent different parts of the world.  Most of the kids are bringing in rocks and bugs from Isla Paradiso but Robby is bringing in some rocks that came with them from Aurora Skies.  I want to bring in relics from China which is the only place the display is missing."

     "Sounds like a great project.  I think your dad has some relics from our trip to China when you were little."

     "But mummy that's cheating.  It's supposed to be things we found for the display."

     Jaessana raised a brow at her daughter's argument.  "Are you saying you want to go to China just to get some relics for this extra project?"

     "Of course.  You want me to do my own work and put in my own effort in school don't you?"

     Jaessana shook her head.  Logic, she was beaten by logic she couldn't argue against since it was about her child's education.  "I'll talk to your dad about this and we'll see if another trip is in the budget for now."

     

     "Thank you mummy," Dani exclaimed giving her mother a hug before running out of the studio.

     "I said we'll talk. Not we're going," she yelled after the girl.

                                                       

     

      "Pancakes with chopsticks." Dani said looking at her sister eating the breakfast food.
      "When in China do as the Chinasims do," Bailey replied.
      "It's not that bad," Everado added, "you get used to it."
      "You're the one that wanted to come here Dani," Jaessana said.
      "Yeah but I didn't think we would be eating pancakes with chopsticks," she said.

      While Everado went about exploring the various tombs in the region Jaessana accompanied the girls on a quest around the city of Shang SimLa to find precious stones and bugs indigenous to the area for the school display.  They ended the day at the local orchard where they planned to meet up with Everado when he finished his tomb raiding.
      Jaessana took advantage of the open access to harvest more fruits to take home for Everado to grow in their prospering garden.

     Danica and Bailey played tag and rock-paper-scissors while they waited and their mother worked.  It grew dark before Everado joined them.

     "You guys should have gone back to the base camp without me," Everado said.
     Jaessana smiled, "The girls were fine playing and it's not that late out.  It just gets darker here a little faster than at home."
     "Well let's get those girls corraled and home to bed," he said.
     Everado turned and cupping his hands to his mouth called, "Girls let's go."
     Dani and Bay turned at their father's call and together ran over to their mum and dad.
     "This is the best trip ever," Dani enthused on the walk back.
     "I'm glad you like it kiddo," Everado said ruffling her hair.
   

     Dani squeaked and tried to push her father's hand away before running ahead.  Everado just laughed and ran after her.
     Jaessana and Bay smiled at each other over the pairs familiar antics.  While Bay loved horses it was definitely Dani who was the tomboy of the pair.

                                                                                                                                                  
Random Ramblings

   So this chapter is meant to be short but sweet.  Maybe a little bit of a filler that adds a little bit to the family story line.  I haven't done too much playing recently.  I started school and that has cut in to my free time *cries* but I have some screenshots still.  I write these posts prior to publishing them.  I'm trying to keep three or four ahead of my published posts so that I have that little bit of a window to play and collect screenshots in.  If I can't I might slow down my publishing to once a week.  Well that's a future concern.
   And since I have no further rambles I'm going on to my next post......

Chapter 1.15

     Jaessana was in the nursery as usual when she felt the twinges in her back.
     "Ow," she hissed clutching her stomach, "Owowow.  This had to happen now of all times."
     Everado was at work and Dromy was out with friends that afternoon.  Jaessana pulled out her phone and dialed Everado.  She had to pull the phone back away from her ear due to the blast of sound that came through when he picked up.
     "Hey Jae, what's up?  The games about to start so I have to go soon."
     "Yeah you have to go soon.  You need to come home."
     "What's that?  Jae you need to speak louder.  I can barely hear you over the crowd over here."
     "The baby's coming," Jaessana managed to yell at the next contraction.
     "WHAT?"
     "Get home fast," Jaessana panted into the phone.
     "I"m on my way.  Hey guys the baby's coming!"  Everado hung up on the catcalls and cheers of his teammates.
     Jaessana hissed with the next wave of pain.  "Hold on baby daddy's on his way.  I just don't think he'll get here in time."
  

     After some more pain and yelling Jaessana gave birth to a baby boy she named Owen as she and Everado had chosen.

     Everado made it back as Jaessana finished cuddling the baby.
     "Jae.  Are you okay?  Is the baby alright?"
     "We're fine Everado.  Come meet your son. Owen."
     Everado picked up Danica who was at his feet and walked over to Jaessana.  He brushed his hand over the baby's head before bending to kiss the same spot.  "Welcome to the family, Owen."
     Jaessana was left breathless by the love in her husbands words and actions.  And the love that shown in his eyes when he looked up at her.
     "Thank you, too, Jae, for our son."
     "I love you too, Everado," Jaessana smiled.

     As there was not enough room for a third crib in the nursery Everado assembled a temporary crib in their bedroom for Owen until the girls had their Childhood birthday and he would have the nursery to himself.

     Bailey was the first to Age Up and blew the horn while Jaessana helped Danica to blow out her candles.

     "Girls, hurry up and finish your breakfast you still need to get dressed before the school bus gets here."
     "Okay mum," they chimed in unison.
     Jaessana shook her head, half a day and they had already gotten the twin thing down.  Or maybe it was a sibling thing.  There was such a large age gap between her, Kiran and Dromy that maybe they weren't a good example of the sibling dynamic.  Well there was no maybe about it, Jaessana thought as the girls ran down the stairs when the bus honked, the three of them weren't even the littlest bit alike.
     She was an artist that specialized in forgery and Kiran had gotten a job at the hospital after finishing University.  Dromy was talking about how she would turn her inheritance from their father into a real estate empire after she finished high school in a couple more days.  She wondered just how different her children would be in their own future choices.

     The girls were playing as Jaessana picked Owen up out of his crib to feed and change.
     "How was school today?" she asked them.
     "It was great," Danica enthused from the play table.  "The teacher was talking about these other cities called Bridgeport and Sunset Valley.  According to the teacher Sunset Valley is the oldest Sim settlement but Bridgeport has the tallest buildings."
     "It's according to history, not your teacher, Dani.  I suppose it's true, though I've never been to either city."
     "Why not mum?  I think it would be swell to go to them.  And the teacher was saying there are a lot more cities out there also."
     "Yes, quite a few.  Maybe you'll get to see them when you grow up,  you just have to study hard and work for it.  How about you Bay?  Anything interesting happen today?"
 

     "Not really.  Mum do you know why there aren't any horses on the island?"
     Jaessana turned to take Owen to the changing table.  She saw Bay getting off the children's rocking horse.  "No. I don't know.  Why?"
     "I want a real horse when I grow up.  Not just a rocking horse.  If there aren't horses on the island how will I get a horse."
     "I don't think we need a horse Bay," Jaessana said, "we already have three cats."
     "But mum, cats are cats.  They're not horses."
     "Bay let's table the horse discussion until you're older okay."
     "Alright mum," Bailey sighed.

     "It's not fair.  Mum said you could travel so why can't I have a horse."
     Bailey and Danica went to the library after school got out the next day.  Their mum was home with Owen but he made too much noise, so it was easier to get their homework done at the library before going home.
     "Mum said she would talk about it when we're older.  Well, we're a whole day older today.  Maybe she'll talk about it today."
     Bailey smiled, "Maybe.  Let's finish this and go home.  What did you get for question 13?"

     "Bay, Dani, come meet your Uncle Kiran."
     "Uncle Kiran, it's still hard to believe."
     "Yeah well I should be Aunt Jae-jae already.  Is that gonna happen anytime soon." Jaessana asked with a raised brow at her brother.
     Kiran laughed, "Nothing's happening and lay off Jae.  You almost sound like mum."
     "How is Persephone."
     "She's getting by.  She's still in the hospital, she has her good days and her bad days.  But it's more bad than good."
     "I'm sorry Kiran," Jaessana said as the girls started clomping down the stairs.
     "Me too, but it is what it its.  And who are these beautiful little ladies," he smiled at the girls as they came over.
     "Hello Uncle Kiran," they said together.

     The visit with Kiran was short but it was getting late when Dani walked him to the door.  She had discovered that instead of coming straight back to Isla Paradiso after University he had worked in a town called Appaloosa Plains and another chain of islands.  She questioned him about his time away all the way to the sidewalk where a taxi waited for him.
     Coming back inside she was surprised by the transparent sim hovering in the hallway.
     "Mum," she called out.
     "What is it," Jaessana responded from the next room.
     "There's a stranger in the house."
     "What?" Jaessana said.  Dani could here the rustling as her mother got up from the couch and steps as she walked to the hallway.  Jaessana stopped in the doorway to the living room when she saw the ghost.
     "Oh, that's your great-granny Kystali.  She was my dad's mum."
     "I thought she was dead," Dani said eyeing the ghost warily.
     "She is.  It's okay sweetie, she's not going to hurt you, you can come here."
     Dani carefully edged around the ghost and made her way to her mum.  Despite reassurances she didn't want to get near the strange sim even if she was just a ghost.  When she got to her mum she took her hand and stood with her mum between her and the ghost.
     "If she's dead why is she here?"
     "Come on, let's go to the living room," Jaessana said leading Dani away from the hall.

     "Granny Kystali is dead.  But like all the deceased she left her remains behind when she died.  There is some kind of psychic essence that stays in those remains long after the sims has passed away.  Sometime that essence builds up enough energy that an imprint, a memory, of that sim appears at night."
      Jaessana looked at the little girl next to her,  "most ghost's might try to scare you but they can't hurt you.  And these ghosts are family.  Do you understand?"
      Danica looked at the doorway behind her.  "I guess so mummy."
      Jaessana smiled "If the ghosts get too scary let me know.  Daddy and I will think of something okay."
      "Okay," Dani  smiled.
      "Time for bed then," Jaessana kissed the top of Dani's head, "find your sister and go get ready."
      "Love you mummy."
      "Love you too, baby."

                                                                                                                                                  
Random Ramblings

   As of now there are about 6 or 7 ghosts in the house so it can get a little crowded when they show up at night.  
   So as of this writing I am caught up to where I am in game play.  I got a little set up done so I am ready to go play again.  As I go on I am going to try to give more of a voice to all the kids as well as Jae.  I don't want to come right out and tell you who my heir will be, but this is technically still Jae's story.  The torch has not been passed.  That being said I've already got generation 2 planned out and I am itching to get it started, but I still have to get through the teen years *crying in frustration*
   Oh well, I will just have to try and have some fun with it, and it should be once they are teens.  I mean boyfriends, prom, school, clubs, jobs.  So many avenues of growing up to explore.
   As of now I don't think either Jae or Everado has mastered any of the skill challenges, I'll mostly focus on Jae though as she is my main character.
   How's the story so far? Any one enjoying it?  Well me but I'm writing it so I don't think I count.